I came across this quote and liked it immensely ??? perhaps because I identify with it.

“I write down everything I want to remember. That way, instead of spending a lot of time trying to remember what it is I wrote down, I spend the time looking for the paper I wrote it down on.”

- Beryl Pfier -

Ahh, the time of the year that teacher’s look forward too.

Right now I am working away the reports for my grade and I am just about over them.  I wish I could write;

1. Since my last report, your child has reached rock bottom and has started to dig.

Tags: humour, education, reports, report card

Today we took some time out this morning to drive the car to a nice bushland setting around 20 minutes away from our house.  We weren’t quite sure what to expect, but when we arrived we were treated with some beautiful scenery.  The Yarra River is the main waterway through the city of Melbourne and winds it way down from the hill country.

We had a great time, hearing the birds, admiring the river and just generally taking in the peaceful surrounds.  God is so good to have given us such a beautiful place to enjoy his creation.

You make springs gush forth in the valleys;  they flow between the hills; they give drink to every beast of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst.  Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell; they sing among the branches. From your lofty abode you water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.

Psalm 104:10-13 (English Standard Version)

This morning Jeanette and I awoke to find an email from Steven Curtis Chapman website conveying the tragic loss of their youngest adopted daughter Maria Sue.  The five year old was hit by a car in their driveway, but died later in hospital.  More details at thier website - www.stevencurtischapman.com

Please keep the family in your prayers and thoughts at this time.

Here’s two articles I came across in the wake of Mother’s Day.

A recent study by salary.com stay at home mum is worth around $117,000 (US) per year, while here’s a mum who probably deserves a little more than that, as she gears up to deliver her 18th child.

Tags: Mother’s Day, Duggars, salary of mom

Just what we need now.  Christian spam.  Really?

Read the story.

Mother’s Day here in Australia.  Who wouldn’t like a nice picture of their sons for the mantle-piece?

Conspiracy: Hot on the heels of ‘The Da Vinci Code’ comes the next saga exploring Christ apart from the scriptures. The movie Bloodline is soon to be released.

Music: Soveriegn Grace have recently released their new album ‘Come Weary Saints’.

Funny: Lying is bad.  Lying is even worse when you do so to the police, and the name you give them is one wanted for homicide.

Book: Imonk (or is that iMonk?) has written an article in the wake of a little book called ‘The Shack’

Technology: For Mac users who are a little tired of the usual RSS readers, get a hold of Times.  Awesome, intuitive and another reason to love having a Mac.

Just a quick one today.

While eating McDonald’s the other day, Rebekah (4 yo) was looking through her cheeseburger and offered me the delightful (?) pickle that they put in there. I declined, to which she said, “Maybe dad when you get to grow up a little bit more you might be able to eat your pickles.”

Sovereign Grace Music is offering to all registered Facebook members a free copy of their entire new album Come Weary Saints. 

If you’re on Facebook simply go to the Sovereign Grace Facebook page to become a fan. 

Troll through their Wall and you’ll find the information you’ll need to download your free mp3 copy. 

It is only for a limited time and it’s an extremely generous offer to get  some Biblically solid music.

Tags: Sovereign Grace, Come Weary Saints, Free mp3, Covenant Life, Mark Altrogge, Bob Kauflin

Here’s a hint to the lovely mother I saw at the shops today.

When your four year old child has been screaming in the supermarket for the last ten minutes, with no sign of relenting, make a decision.

Either say to your friend who is with you - ‘can you get the few items by yourself, I’m taking Johnny to the car’ or say to your friend, “Let’s go, I’ll come back later.”

Don’t put up with it - and don’t let others around you have to put up with it either.

Allow a little self-indulgence here as I take time to mention that Jeanette went into labour on the 28th March, and our newest little addition was born - Josiah Timothy; saved by God, honoured by God.

Jay did so well and she cooks our children to perfection.  She manages somehow to survive 9 months of heartburn, vomiting, doctors etc etc and still produces the most amazing little creatures. 

Josiah was born nearly three weeks early and his weight of 5 pound 10 reflects that.  He is doing very well, eating and sleeping like he should.  He is a most welcome addition to our family, and Rebekah and Noah are ecstatic about being older siblings.

But enough - here’s a couple of pics for those interested.

Photo One

Photo Two

Photo Three

Here’s an article that I saw yesterday, and as a teacher myself I have to agree. 

The decline of marriage is leading to widespread underachievement and indiscipline in schools, teachers warned yesterday.

Children with "chaotic" home lives turn up at school too troubled to learn, wrecking their prospects of success in exams, they said.

Growing numbers are being brought up in splintered families by mothers with children by different fathers, leading to behaviour and mental health problems including eating disorders and suicidal thoughts, a teachers’ conference heard.

The article can be seen in full here.

Profile of a Savior

Greg Koukl, President, Stand to Reason, www.str.org

 Easter 2008.

Here at STR we want to wish you a meaningful Easter week. Yes, Jesus was a man, but he was no ordinary man. His death burial and resurrection provides the meaning for all we do here at STR. And we can be assured that our convictions in these events that took place in history are based on the testimony of those witnesses, who on that day of resurrection proclaimed: "He is risen." He is risen indeed. Alleluia! I hope you find these thoughts a blessing to you as you celebrate Easter.

Jesus was a man, but not an ordinary man.
He was a man born from the seed of woman. Galatians 4:4 "But when the fullness of the time came, God
sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law."

He was brutally executed by crucifixion. Matthew 27:33-56 "And when they came to a place called Golgotha, which means Place of a Skull, they gave Him wine to drink mixed with gall; and after tasting it, He was unwilling to drink. And when they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments among themselves by casting lots. And sitting down, they began to keep watch over Him there. And above His head they put up the charge against Him which read, "THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS."
Luke 23:33-48 "One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him…. It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour, because the sun was obscured; and the veil of the temple was torn in two. And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, "Father, INTO YOUR HANDS I COMMIT MY SPIRIT." Having said this, He breathed His last."

He was rejected by His people. John 1:11 "He came to His own and those who were His own did not
receive Him."

He was raised from the dead. Acts 1:3 "To these [apostles] He presented Himself alive, after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of 40 days…."

But He was not an ordinary man. He was God Himself who laid His life down for us.

Jesus was sinless. Even His enemies could find no sin in Him. Luke 23:13-49 "Pilate summoned the chief priests and the rulers and the people, and said to them, ‘You brought this man to me as one who incites the people to rebellion, and behold, having examined Him before you, I have found no guilt in this man regarding the charges which you make against Him.’…Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he began praising God, saying, ‘Certainly this man was innocent.’"

Jesus was God Himself. John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God."
Collosians 1:15, 19 "And He is the image of the invisible God….For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him."
Hebrews 1:3 "And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power."
Romans 9:5 "…from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever."

(Adapted from “The Bible: Fast Forward” by Greg Koukl, available on CD and MP3)
A more detailed version is available on the STR website at http://www.str.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=6991